The San Diego Film Critics Society held their annual awards luncheon on February 24, 2009 at the Prado Restaurant in beautiful Balboa Park in San Diego, California. On hand were the SDFCS members, invited quests and VIPS. Accepting his SDFCS award for Best Production for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was Donald Graham Burt, who won the Academy Award for Achievement in Art Direction just two days earlier. Burt attended the awards with his wife, Yan, a former independent filmmaker. Burt addressed the group and spoke about his methods for creating the look of Button, what he liked about the film and how much he enjoys working with David Fincher, the director of the movie.

Also honored at the luncheon was Destin Cretton, a San Diego film student and Jury Prize winner for Best Short Film at Sundance. Destin spoke about his efforts to promote his film, Short Term 12, and the next film he is working on.

The Critics’ Kyle Counts Award was given to the San Diego Library in support of their film program. Lynn Whitehouse and her assistant Ralph DeLauro, were on hand from the Library to accept their awards.